LUCKNOW: NISHAD Party president and Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad has stepped up his demand for reservation for the Nishad community, urging the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh to act on the issue.Addressing party workers, Nishad asked BJP leader and state transport minister Daya Shankar Singh, who was sharing the stage with him, to take up the reservation demand with the BJP government.“We want reservation and the BJP government must implement it. I want Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh, who is sharing the stage with me, to take up this issue with the BJP government before it is too late,” Nishad said.He urged party workers to strengthen the NISHAD Party at the grassroots level and prepare booths across the state. Nishad said the party’s 11 MLAs were ready to raise the reservation issue in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.Issuing a political warning to the BJP, Nishad said the Congress, BSP and SP had lost power after losing the support of the Nishad community. He cautioned that the BJP could face a similar situation if it failed to address the community’s demand.“I am with the BJP, but you must strengthen your own party and prepare your own booths. I am your lawyer and the BJP is the judge, but reservation has to be given,” he said.Nishad said he was prepared to give up his ministerial position if that was necessary to secure reservation for the community.“Take away my ministerial post, but the government must give us reservation. I do not need a ministerial position if our demand is not addressed,” he said.He also asked party workers to approach officials, MLAs and the administration with their grievances and protest if their concerns were not addressed. Nishad said he was willing to stage a protest outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence if required.“My workers are my strength. As long as there is a drop of blood in my body, I will continue to raise your voice and demand reservation,” Nishad said.
